By Michel Outridge

SHAMEER Mohamed walked out of the High Court yesterday afternoon a free man and was re-united with his relatives after a 12-member jury found him not guilty of the May 17, 2011 manslaughter of Munrajie Amza, called “Sandra.”The matter was before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and after the unanimous verdict was announced she told Mohamed, called “Pipe,” that he was free to go.

A relieved and smiling Mohamed embraced his relatives yesterday before he exited the courtroom.

According to the indictment, Mohamed was charged with manslaughter in the county of Demerara, for the unlawful killing of his female friend Munrajie Amza, called “Sandra” on May 17, 2011. Mohamed had elected to give an unsworn statement.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge. Ten witnesses, including Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh, were called to testify during the trial.

Dr. Singh gave the cause of death as septicemia as a result of infection to burns on 70% to 80% of the body surface. It is alleged that on the evening of May 17, 2011 Munrajie doused herself with kerosene and gave a dying declaration that Mohamed lit the match and she was severely burnt.

Amza was imbibing in a bar when Mohamed saw her and they left together and went to her apartment.

There Amza told Mohamed that she had broken up with her husband and he should take her, but he said he could not since he was not ready, and hugged her after which she threw kerosene on herself and told him to ignite it.

He went to the washroom and upon his return saw Amza engulfed in flames and assisted in dousing the fire.

The state prosecutors were Michael Shahoud and Orinthia Schmidt, while the defence counsel was Michael Somersall.

The incident took place on May 12, 2011, but Amza died on May 17, 2011 in the hospital and the post-mortem was performed on May 18, 2011.